TIBETAN BUDDHIST RITUAL SACRED Manjushri GHAU GHAU GAU PRAYER BOX PENDANT FROM PATAN, NEPAL

Manjushree Gau Ritual Shrine Prayer Box

 Gau / Pendant / Prayer Box

Gau is a small prayer box worn as pendant by Buddhists as portable shrines where prayers and sacred relics are kept and used during their travel to hold their sacred deity inside. Now, Gau or Prayer Box pendants are often used as jewelry or personal adornment. They are used to carry prayers or prayer concerns or photos, poems, small items, or memories. Gau pendants can carry your prayers near to your heart throughout the day. They are jewelry that has a history. The Gau opens to a concealed inner space, and is traditionally used by Tibetan Buddhists to hold a picture of their favorite deity or Lama, a folded-up scroll of sacred mantras, special herbs or sacred relics. The Gau is used as an amulet to help the wearer to ward off negative energy and attract blessings. A Gau is also used as a portable shrine and are worn on a cord around the neck and hung close to the heart.

These Gaus are mostly made of silver; however, the artisans also use copper, brass, gold and other metals. Gau often have intricate designs of deity, auspicious symbols and mantras inscribed on their outer and inner surface Gau is often decorated by precious or semi-precious gemstones which have various healing effects on the wearer. Turquoise, considered by many as a master healing stone, Lapis Lazuli and Coral are especially popular in Gau or Prayer Box design for their beauty and healing properties. Other gemstones used by the craftsman include: amber, carnelian, amethyst, malachite, onyx and topaz.

About this Ritual item

This beautiful Gau Ritual Shrine Prayer Box is entirely a hand carved piece; made from copper alloy which has fine intricate filigree hand carvings known as siko carvings in local term and is submitted to gold plating effect to yield a rich and sensuous finish and besides the decoration of Turquoise, Coral and Lapis gemstones make this Gau Ritual Shrine Prayer Box a stunning piece of art which is entirely a hand craft. This beautiful Gau or Prayer Box is hand made by the master artisans of Patan, which lies in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal; who have been in the business from generations.